A little concerned...

shinypennies86

Would anyone be able to help me please

A little bird told me that a student loan will be provided for the length of the course, plus one additional year if needed.

Here's the situation: I was one year in Durham University (1st year of loan). I then dropped out but kept my 2nd year loan as I moved out with my boyfriend and had to find work(2). Now I am 1st year at my local university (3)

The length of my original course in Durham was 4 years. Now am I only allowed a loan for 4 years + 1 additional year = 5 years (which will not cover my final year)? Because if that's the case then I won't be able to afford my final year!!!!!

Any advice will be lapped up gratefully:p

stacey21_2

In Scotland we have something called a false start. This is where you leave the course you signed up to within the first term and so the loan entitlement and fees do not count towards this.
From the SAAS website:

We appreciate that it is difficult to know if you have made the right choice of course. On one occasion only we allow what we call a 'false start'. If you do no more than one year of an HND, degree or equivalent level course and do not progress into the second year, we will ignore the support we gave you for this year and give you the full support package again to start another HND, degree or equivalent level course. A false start is not available for an HNC or similar level course.

Hope this helps

Serenity

shinypennies86 wrote:

... I then dropped out but kept my 2nd year loan ...

I think that is the key bit. Because you kept that you can't ask for it again. So it looks like you will have to pay for one of your years.

kelloggs36

Why are you allowed a loan for an additional year after your course ends? My course is 3 years, yet I don't even get the full year's worth of loan for the 3rd year as they say that I should be in work by the end of the year and so don't need to be covered for this period? Is it loan for the fees, or maintenance loan?

stacey21_2

I think what that means is the fees being paid rather than an actual loan?

kittiwoz

kelloggs36, you are allowed one additional years loan if needed ie. if you have to repeat a year (or if you have to interrupt for a year? Not sure about that as you wouldn't be a student). This is the maintenance loan, not fees.

This is to provide financial support to repeaters but weed out people who are essentially using uni as a dodge so you can't start a degree, take the loan, never turn up, fail at the end of the year, then start a new course and do it all over again ad-infinitum.

kelloggs36

Ahh, I see, thanks!

shinypennies86

Thanx I think I get the gist of it now. Suppose it was my own fault really keeping the loan for that second year.

I'm not going to panic yet. I have two years left to start funding for my third year so if I start saving now...

...and there's always parents!

Serenity

shinypennies86 wrote:

Thanx I think I get the gist of it now. Suppose it was my own fault really keeping the loan for that second year.

I'm not going to panic yet. I have two years left to start funding for my third year so if I start saving now...

...and there's always parents!

You should try speaking to your tutor or the finance people at your uni to be sure, and maybe see if they have any other options.